Holidays
(For updated 2011 holiday blog posts, click here.)
January:
New Year’s Day (US Federal Holiday) send e-cards
Printable January Calendar and Activities
January is Clean Up Your Computer Month—Try Vinegar. For internal clean up—free up drive space
January 3rd– Author J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday, 1892
January 6th—Epiphany/Three Kings’ Day
January 15—1929 MLK Birthday– observed 3rd Monday Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 17th –Ben Franklin’s Birthday Interesting site for all grade levels
January 18th–Winnie The Pooh Day (In observance of the birthday of Alan Alexander Milne, 1882.) pooh corner
January 27th—National Geographic Society founded 1888–lesson plans and activities
January 29th–National Puzzle Day Online jigsaw puzzles for preschoolers
February:
February—Black History Month (began in 1926) Historical Printable Activity Gr1-2
February 2—Groundhog Day—Groundhog Day Crafts
February 14—Valentine’s Day– The Heart: An Online Exploration (6th grade and up); Internet Scavenger Hunt–Heart (Gr 2-6)
February 19—President’s Day— Abe Lincoln Project
March:
St. Patrick’s Day Trivia
“Note: One of the most popular legends attributed to Patrick is that he used the shamrock as a visual aid to teach the principle of the Trinity. This story cannot be verified. However, from his writings it is evident the doctrine of the Trinity was central in his teaching.” — from the following website http://holydays.tripod.com/shamrock.htm
April:
Jewish Passover Activities http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/passover/
Easter Activities http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/easter-religious/
Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride (April 18-19) http://www.paulreverehouse.org/
April 24—Pigs-n-blanket Day
May:
1st Thursday—National Day of Prayerhttp://www.ndptf.org/--healing for the nation
May 5th—Cinco de Mayo http://www.kinderart.com/multic/poncho.shtml
May 7th—Teacher Day
May 10th—Clean your room day
2nd Sunday—Mother’s Day http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mothersday.shtml
May 15th—Chocolate Chip Day http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/chocolatechipday.htm
3rd Saturday—Armed Forces Day
May 24th—Brother’s Day
Last Monday—Memorial Day http://www.usmemorialday.org/activities/
May 25th—Ascension Day
Graduation Crafts http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/graduation/
June:
14th—Flag Day USA
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/flag-day/index.html
http://www.firstschool.ws/theme/h_united_states.htm
15th—Fly a kite day (Ben Franklin’s experiment in 1752)
3rd Sunday—Father’s Day http://www.funlessonplans.com/holidays/mothrday.htm
(History of Father’s Day lesson and craft)
And, check out these articles, books, and links especially for dads!
July:
July 4 – Independence Day (USA)
July 7 – World War II began, 1937—unit studies
July 11 – E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, born 1899
July 24 – Amelia Earhart born, 1897 (link in English or Spanish)
July 28 – Beatrix Potter, author, born 1866-online book
July 30 – Henry Ford born, 1863—lesson plan-2nd/3rd gr
August:
Friendship Day, first Sunday
National Kids Day, first Sunday
August 5th, 1930– Neil Alden Armstrong (the first man on the moon) was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio Video of first moon landing on youtube.
August 14–Creamsicle Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popsicle
August 15 – Panama Canal opened, 1914
August 19 – National Aviation Day (aviation unit study); crafts; virtual tour new 747
August 26 – Women given right to vote, 1920
September:
Labor Day, date varies {origins of: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/labor-day/index.html
September 14 – Francis Scott Key wrote the “Star Spangled Banner” {see neat quote here}
September 17 – Citizenship Day
September 17 – US Constitution (activities) was signed, 1787
September 26 – Johnny Appleseed was born, 1775—for story and fun and games click here: http://www.applejuice.org/johnnyappleseed.html
September 28– Native American Day and http://www.powayusd.com/projects/multicultural/NativeAmericanDay.htm
October:
October 5th—World and International Teacher’s Day
2nd Monday—Columbus Day http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/octoberholidays/l/bloct11th.htm
Columbus Virtual Field Trip (see E Field Trip Tab)
October 19th–Star Spangled Banner First Sung In 1814.
October 28th—Statue of Liberty’s birthday http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/octoberholidays/l/bloct28th.htm
November:
November 2 – Daniel Boone born, 1734
November 3 – Robert Louis Stevenson born, 1850 (Treasure Island unit study.)
November 11 – Veteran’s Day
National Children’s Book Week, third week
November 16, 1952 – Lucy first holds a football for Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoon strip. www.snoopy.com
November 17—National Adoption Day (Events in Texas, click here); Or, choose your state for events.
Thanksgiving Day, last Thursday (activities & lessons)
Some of these ideas come from: http://www.easyfunschool.com/
Thanksgiving Blessing Tree
I ran across this idea. Thought you might want to use it:
Make a tree out of construction paper and hang it on the wall. Every day put leaves on it with things you are thankful for. By Thanksgiving you should have it completely filled and running over. Just a way to help the kids and grownups to remember what God has done for them. You can make your leaves out of colored construction paper like fall leaves. Or, trace your child’s hand on different colors of construction paper. Hang each “leaf” upside down on the tree. Curl the fingers slightly by rolling up over a pencil. Write the thankful statement on the palm of the hand.
December:
Here are some good sites for celebrating Advent.
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html
http://www.kingofpeace.org/advent/advent.htm
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D158652%2526M%253D200273,00.html http://www2.focusonthefamily.com/focusmagazine/spiritualheritage/A000000600.cfm
Fun lessons/activities for December
A Colonial Christmas in Williamsburg
Plays, Prayers, Songs, and Stories
